Seedless table grape (grapevine) named ‘ITUMEIGHT’

ABSTRACT

A new distinct variety of grapevine named ‘Itumeight’ abundantly forms attractive dark red violet skinned seedless berries with a cylindrical narrow ellipsoid shape, neutral with a semi acid twist flavor and a very crunchy and firm berry flesh texture. Being a mid-season variety, the fruit commonly is ready for harvesting in summer from late July to early September in Blanca, Murcia, Spain and displays good eating qualities as a table grape. The fruit meatiness and firmness render the fruit amenable for handling, shipping, and storage.

Latin name of the genus and species: Vitis vinifera.

Variety denomination: ‘ITUMEIGHT’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A breeding program was initiated during 2003 at a research nursery inBlanca, Murcia, Spain. During the development of this breeding program,a new variety of Vitis vinifera was created by deliberate cross breedingof two parent plants by emasculation of the pollen bearing organ of thefemale and introducing pollen from a different male variety. The femaleparent of the new variety is ‘Autumn Royal’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,906.The male parent (i.e. the pollen parent) of the new variety is‘Princess’, unpatented.

‘Itumeight’ was identified as a potentially interesting selection during2008 at the same location in Murcia, Spain. After identifying the newvariety as a potentially interesting selection, first propagation of‘ITUMEIGHT’ by vegetative cuttings was undertaken during 2009, at theresearch nursery in Murcia, Spain. Controlled testing and propagation ofthe new variety continued, to assess stability of the uniquecharacteristics of this variety. Subsequently, several generations havebeen reproduced and have shown that the unique features of this cultivarare stable and reproduced true to type. No publications have been issuedon the plant breeding invention. Date of first sale was Sep. 2, 2019,occurring in Europe. This sale was made directly by the inventor or onewho obtained the claimed invention directly or indirectly from theinventor. This sale and all public disclosures made between Sep. 2, 2019and the filing of this application fall within the exception allowedunder 102(b)(1).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ITUMEIGHT’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The new variety‘Itumeight’ is a dark red-violet seedless table grape with mediumproduction and a medium fertility index “1”. In addition to the beforementioned characteristics, the following traits have been repeatedlyobserved and are determined to be the unique characteristics of‘Itumeight’. These characteristics in combination distinguish‘Itumeight’ as a new and distinct Vitis cultivar:

-   -   1. Unique dark red-violet skin coloration.    -   2. Medium to large clusters.    -   3. Mid-Season variety, commonly bears fruit for harvesting from        late July to early September in the region of Murcia, Spain.    -   4. Very firm berry, crunchy texture.    -   5. Absence of seeds.    -   6. Cylindrical, narrow ellipsoid berry shape    -   7. Interesting flavor: neutral with a semi-acid twist.    -   8. Fruit has been found to be suitable for handling and        shipping.    -   9. Observed tolerance of water shortage.    -   10. Observed tolerance for temperatures up to 41° C.    -   11. Neutral flavor profile.    -   12. Resistance to cracking.    -   13. Foliage distinctively produces half open lobes at the        petiole sinus.

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETIES

TABLE 1 Parental A (fem) Characteristic ‘Itumeight’ ‘Autumn Royal’ BerrySkin Color Dark Red- Purple to Black Violet Formation of SeedlessRudimentary Seeds Berry Texture Very crunchy Crunchy Berry ShapeCylindrical Ovoid narrow ellipsoid Parental B (masc.) Characteristic‘Itumeight’ ‘Princess’ Berry Shape: Cylindrical Round to narrowcylindrical ellipsoid Formation of Seedless Rudimentary Seeds Berry SkinDark Red- Light Green Color Violet

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

TABLE 2 ‘Crimson Cabernet’ (U.S. Characteristic ‘Itumeight’ Plant Pat.No. 20,913) Mature leaf: Half open Slightly overlapped arrangement oflobes of petiole sinus Berry color Dark Red- Black Violet ‘Blagarone’Characteristic ‘Itumeight’ (unpatented) Berry Shape Cylindrical Obtuseellipsoid narrow ellipsoid Mature leaf: proportion of Absent High mainveins upperside of blade with anthocyanin coloration Time of berryripening Early to Mid- Very early season Berry Size Large Medium‘Itumnine’ (U.S. Application Characteristic ‘Itumeight’ No. 16/983,933)Berry Texture Very firm, Very firm, approximately approximately 25 32newtons newtons Berry Shape Cylindrical Cylindrical narrow ellipsoidMaturity Date Mid-season Late-season; from August. from Mid-Septemberuntil Mid- until October September

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographic illustrations show typical samples ofvegetative growth of 9 year old specimens of the new variety, in coloras nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a colorillustration of this character. Plants were grown in Murcia, Spain.Colors in the photograph may differ from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description below, which accurately describes thecolors of the new Grapevine.

FIG. 1 illustrates a fruit cluster of ‘Itumeight’.

FIG. 2 shows a close up view of the trunk of ‘Itumeight’.

FIG. 3 illustrates in close up perspective typical foliage of the newvariety, both front and back of the leaf.

FIG. 4 illustrates the plant canopy of ‘Itumeight’, including fruits,branches and foliage.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2015 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Some descriptors, when usefulhave been incorporated from UPOV Grape Descriptor Guidelines. Thedescription is based on the observation of plants growing on ‘1103Paulsen’ (unpatented) rootstock in clay stony soil conditions in thefields near Blanca, Murcia, Spain. The age of plant described is of 9years, with an average height of 200 cm, a high canopy density, a 300 cmplant spread, a one-year growth rate to reach two meters high and 20 to30 days to initiate roots at approx. 20° C. At observation locationtemperature ranged between 15° C. to 35° C. during the day, and between5° C. to 20° C. during the night.

-   Botanical classification: Vitis vinifera ‘Itumeight’.

CANES

-   Characteristics of mature canes:    -   -   Diameter.—1.2 to 1.4 cm.        -   Length.—60-70 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange 164C.        -   Cross section shape.—Circle.        -   Strength.—Medium.        -   Texture.—Non-pubescent, rough.-   Lenticels:    -   -   Diameter <0.5 mm.        -   Density.—Few to-moderate.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange 164C.-   Internode:    -   -   Length.—9-11 cm; midpoint 10 cm.        -   Pigmentation at internode, dorsal.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange            164C.        -   Pigmentation at internode, ventral.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange            164C.-   Tendril: (Counting nodes/buds from the base of the branch to its    end, when a tendril is present, a 1 is marked, no tendril, a 0 is    marked) pattern on show: 0,0,0,0,0,1,0.    -   -   Tendrils forked.—Yes.        -   Tendril texture.—Glabrous.        -   Tendril length.—11 cm.-   Bud:    -   -   Width.—1.1 cm.        -   Bud length.—0.4 cm.        -   Bud shape.—Triangular.        -   Bud color.—Near RHS Greyed-Yellow 161D and 162D both colors            present individually.-   Young shoot:    -   -   Openness of tip.—Open. Anthocyanin not present in Shoot            pigmentation.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Diameter.—0.8 cm to 1.2 cm.        -   Longitudinal Length.—2.2 m to 4.0 m; midpoint 2.5 m.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange 164D, streaked 165D.        -   Cross section.—Circular.        -   Strength.—Very strong.        -   Attitude.—Semi-erect.        -   Bark texture.—Shaggy.        -   Bark color.—Near RHS Greyed-Red 178A streaked 180A.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 17 per cane.        -   Average length.—22 cm.        -   Average width.—20 cm.        -   Overall shape of blade.—Broad-deltate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Nearly entire, infrequent shallow dentations.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Aspect.—Slightly undulate.-   Sinuses:    -   -   Shape of petiolar sinus.—Low widened.        -   Shape of base petiolar sinus.—Low widened.        -   Depth of petiolar sinus.—2 to 4 cm.        -   Width of petiolar sinus.—8 cm.        -   Shape of upper sinuses.—Low widened.-   Color:    -   -   Immature foliage upper side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 154D            streaked 150D.        -   Immature foliage under side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 154D            streaked 150D.        -   Mature foliage upper side.—Near RHS Green 137A.        -   Mature foliage under side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.-   Venation:    -   -   Type.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color upper side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 154C.        -   Venation color under side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 154C.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—16 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A with very weak anthocyanin            presence on top surface near Red 36C.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.

FLOWER

-   Flowering period begins around May 9 to 15 in Murcia, Spain.    -   -   Observed flowers per flowering stem.—Average 440.-   Inflorescence when in bud:    -   -   Length.—12 cm.        -   Diameter.—6 cm.        -   Bud color.—Near RHS Green 140B.        -   Bud shape.—Conical.        -   Bud size.—About 1 to 2 mm by 1 to 2 mm.-   Individual flower:    -   -   Main time of flowering.—6 days.        -   Size of entire flower (to end of stamens).—0.7 cm.        -   Calyx shape.—Funnel.        -   Calyx size.—15 mm.        -   Calyx color.—Near RHS Green 140A.        -   Calyx apex.—Rounded.        -   Calyx base.—Rounded.        -   Calyx texture.—Glabrous all surfaces.        -   Diameter.—15 mm.        -   Days lasting on plant.—6 days.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—5.        -   Arrangement.—Symmetrical rotate.        -   Length.—0.18 cm.        -   Width.—<0.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Ovate.        -   Base.—Ovate.        -   Texture.—Upper and lower surfaces soft.        -   Color.—At opening upper surface: Near RHS Green 140B. At            opening lower surface: Near RHS Green 140B. Fully opened            upper Surface: Near RHS Green 140B. Fully opened lower            Surface: Near RHS Green 140B.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Fruit peduncle length.—55 mm.        -   Fruit peduncle width.—6 mm.        -   Angle.—About 70° to the lateral branch.        -   Fruit peduncle strength.—Very strong.        -   Fruit peduncle texture.—Softly pubescent.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 142D.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Length.—0.7 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.05 cm.        -   Angle.—About 80° to center of flower cluster.        -   Strength.—Medium.        -   Texture.—Softly pubescent.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 141C.-   Fragrance: Absent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Number of stamens: 5.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near Yellow 9C.        -   Pollen.—Color: Near Yellow 8A.-   Quantity: Abundant.-   Pistil quantity: 1.    -   -   Length.—0.3 cm.-   Style:    -   -   Length.—<0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 143B.-   Stigma:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144D.        -   Ovary color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144D.

FRUIT

-   Cluster:    -   -   Average length.—26 cm.        -   Average diameter.—19 cm.        -   Average weight.—750 grams.        -   Fertility index.—Number of clusters per sprouted buds: 1.-   Fruit:    -   -   Average length.—2.9 cm.        -   Average diameter.—2.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Cylindrical narrow ellipsoid.        -   Cross-section.—Circular.        -   Color of berry skin.—Near RHS Purple 77A, blushed Purple            N79C.        -   Color of berry flesh.—Translucent, near White 155B.        -   Brix at harvest.—20.        -   Ease of detachment from pedicel.—Difficult, well hooked and            difficult detachment.        -   Thickness of skin.—Thin.        -   Firmness of flesh.—Very crunchy and very firm.        -   Particular flavor.—Neutral with a semi-acid twist.        -   Formation of seeds.—None. Seeds are absent in this variety.        -   Average weight of an individual berry.—8.2 grams.        -   Storage characteristics.—Typically and observed 90 days at            1° C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease and pest resistance: Not observed to be susceptible nor    resistant to normal diseases and pests of Vitis vinifera.-   Temperature tolerance: Observed growing between 6° C. to 41° C.-   Drought tolerance: Observed to tolerate water shortages during the    dry Summer months of Murcia, Spain without detriment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Vitis grapevinenamed ‘ITUMEIGHT’ as herein illustrated and described.